Bowling pin spotting mechanism



July 17, 1956 J. ZUERCHER 2,755,089

BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MECHANISM Filed Apr il 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet llNVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER ATTORN Y July 17, 1956 J. ZUERCHER 2,755,039

' BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER ATTORNEY July 17, 1956 J. ZUERCHER 2,755,089

BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR JOHN 'ZUERCHER BY ATTOR Y United States Patent 0 BOWLING PINsPoTrrNc MECHANISM JohnZuercher, Butialo, N. Y., assignor to AmericanMachine & Foundry Company,a corporation of New Jersey Application April10, 1952, Serial No. 281,598

20 Claims. (Cl. 273-42) This invention relates to bowling pinspottingmachines, and more particularly to improvements in devices for spottingpins on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

Attempts have been'rnade in the prior art to prov de'pm handling andspotting devices which would spot pins accurately upon a bowling alley.in the main, usually such .2

devices have been complex in construction, could not be depended uponfor setting accurately over long periods of use, and often proved to benoisy in operation.

The present invention overcomes the above noted disadvantages andprovides a pin spotter having pin handling and spotting devices or cupswhich are relatively simple in construction and accurate in spotting.They also are much quieter in operation than those of the prior artbecause they are so constructed, arranged and operated that pinsdelivered thereto, slide downwardly into and come to rest in thespotting devices instead of dropping vertically thereinto. Furthermore,in the movement of thespotting devices from inclined receiving positionto substantially vertical position, each pin carried in a spottingdevice is placed gently on its spotted position instead of being droppedthereonto, after which each device is moved away from its respectivespotted pin and returned to inclined pin receiving and supportingposition. A modified form of device constructed in accordance with theinvention also results in further elimination of noise due to pins beingdelivered thereinto. This feature is particularly desirable in a pinspotting machine, and especially in automatic pin spotting machineswhere in an establishment using a large number of machines, it is highlydesirable to eliminate noise and clatter, or to minimize it as much aspossible.

According to the invention, the pin spotter is provided with the desirednumber of pin receiving and supporting devices or cups. Usually ten cupsare provided and are so arranged on the pin spotter that pins will bespotted in triangular playing formation on the playing bed of a bowlingalley. Each cup consists of an elongated, generally U-shaped trough-likemember formed in such a manner as to accommodate a pin deliveredthereinto for ready replacement on a bowling alley bed. A pin supportedin a pin spotting device or cup made in accordance with the invention isheld therein somewhat in the manner in which it would be held in a humanhand if the latter were extended outwardly palm up. For this reason, mypin spotter device or cup is sometimes referred to herein as amechanical hand. Each cup or mechanical hand is so mounted on thespotter that a pin is readily delivered or slid thereinto when it is inreceiving position. Each pin is supported in inclined position, until atthe proper time, all mechanical hands are moved to substantiallyvertical position as the frame or table, on which the desired num ber ofmechanical hands is mounted, moves toward spotting position relative toa bowling alley. When the bases of the pins rest in on-spot position onthe alley bed as the result of the movement of the spotter to itslowermost position relative thereto, all ten devices are movedrearwardly away from the ten pins which are left spotted on the alley asthe frame moves upwardly, whereupon the 2,755,089 Patented July 17, 1956ice mechanical hands or cup are returned to theirinclined or receivingpositions.

In a modified form of the invention, each pin spotter cup or mechanicalhand is formed of two elongated parts, separated by resilient, shock andnoise absorbing members and secured together by suitable means toprovitle an open generally U-shaped pin spotter cup.

'lhe present invention constitutes a continuation in part ofapplication, Serial Number 186,174, filed August 18, 1950, by Hollowayet al., for Bowling Pin Spotting and Respotting Mechanism.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pin spotterhaving novel open trough-like pin holding and spotting devices forspotting pins on a bowling alley.

It is also an object of the invention to provide improved pin handlingmechanisms, useful in spotting pins on an alley, which are simple inconstruction and in which pins can be delivered from a source of supplywith a minimum of noise and clatter.

The invention is also characterized by the provision of an improved pinspotter having a plurality of triangularly arranged elongated bowlingpin receiving, supporting and spotting devices substantially U-shape incross section which accommodate and seat bowling pins deposited there-'in, and accurately spot such pins when the spotter is moved fromreceiving position to pin spotting position.

The invention also includes the provision of novel pin receiving,supporting and spotting units consisting of generally U-shaped elongatedor trough-like members provided with pin seating means and alsoresilient mountings which are efiective in reducing noise in use to aminimum.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a pin spotter unitembodying the invention shown in pin receiving and supporting position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of pin spotter constructedin accordance with the invention shown in pin receiving and supportingposition, and in spotting position;

Fig. 4- is an end elevation of the same, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of. the same, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a pin spotter made in accordance with theinvention provided with ten triangularly arranged pin spotting unitsmounted thereon.

Fig. 8 is a partial side elevation showing the pinspotter operatingmeans.

A typical spotting device or cup 10 made in accordance with theinvention includes an elongated generally U- shaped trough-like memberor receptacle which preferably is greater in' length than the length ofa pin held therein for spotting. Cup 10 can be formed of sheet metal,wood, plastic, stiffened impregnated or plastic coated fabric orcombinations of such materials or the like. In the device shown inFigures 1 and 2, it is formed of a single piece of metal, suitablyshaped in known manner into a rigid structure which supports and spots apin delivered thereinto in accurate playing arrangement on the bed of abowling alley.

A bowling pin P, delivered from a distributing mechanism (not shown) ofa bowling pin spotting machine pin spotter unit shown in (not shown)into a spotting unit 10, moves or slides along the bottom 11 oftrough-like member which is shaped to conform generally with the contourof a pin, and comes to rest thereon between spaced side walls extendingupwardly from bottom 11 with the tapered sides of the pin below itsbelly portion or section of maximum diameter resting upon and supportedby a holding element 14 which may be formed integrally with cup 10 orattached thereto. As shown in Figures 1 and 2,

element 14 is in the form of substantially a half ring or 1 supportsuitably attached to bottom 11 at the free end of cup 10, and to theinner surface of walls 15 thereof as by screws 16. Half ring support 14preferably is formed of a resilient plastic such as rubber, althoughmetal or fiber, or other compositions may be used. Side walls 15, asshown in Figures 1 and 2, preferably are shaped to function as guidesfor a pin P delivered to a cup 10, and also to provide reinforcing pinpositioning shoulders 17 and 19, such that a pin P held in a cup 10 hasits belly portion located between shoulders 19 and its head and neckportion between shoulders 17. Walls 15 also preferably are formed withflanges 21 and a stiffening bead 23, formed integrally with or attachedthereto in any suitable manner. In this way a trough-like spottingmember or receptacle 10 may be formed of relatively thin material andhave sufficient rigidity to withstand hard usage, and accurate spottingof pins thereby is assured.

Since in the game of bowling, ten pins are placed on the alley in thefamiliar triangular pattern, ten spotter devices or cups 10 arranged inthe same triangular pattern, are mounted on the pinspotter, designatedgenerally 18, which is located over the pin spotting area of a bowlingalley. Spotter 18 is adapted to be moved to and from a bowling alley forthe purpose of spotting a set of ten pins located in the spotter unitsof the pin supporti ing bed thereof.

Each cup 10 is clamped to a horizontal shaft, such as 120. Table 18carries four such shafts, namely 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d on which aremounted four, three, two, and one spotting units or unit, respectively,the arrangement of which corresponds with the arrangement of the #1 to#10 spots on the alley bed (Fig. 7). Each shaft is provided with asuitable number of actuating arms which by means of links or rods 22,are connected in such a manner that when an oscillating motion isimparted to one shaft, all four shafts of the table 18 move at the sametime and in the same direction. Therefore only shaft 12b is providedwith an operating lever 24 (Figs. 7 and 8) which by means of a link 26,is connected to an oscillating lever (Fig. 8) which causes allreceptacles 10 during spotting operation to move from an inclined pinreceiving position to a vertical pin delivery or spotting position.

The mechanism for actuating levers 24 may be similar in construction andoperation to that shown in the above referred to Holloway et al.application.

As illustrated in Figure 8, an oscillating lever 50 is mounted on ashaft 52 rotatably supported in the free end of arm 54 mounted on shaft56 driven from a suitable source of power (not shown) and supported inbearing brackets 58 attached to horizontal members of the main frame 60of the pin spotting machine. Shaft 56 may be driven intermittently bymeans of mechanism similar in construction and operation to thatdisclosed in copending application Serial No. 180,174, filed August 18,1950. Secured to shaft 52 is a sprocket 62 which by means of an endlesschain 64 is connected to a sprocket 66 loosely mounted on shaft 56. Thehub of sprocket 66 is provided with an arm 68, the free end of which isconnected by a link 70 to a lever 72 fixed to shaft 74 supported in asuitable bearing bracket 75 attached to one of the horizontal members offrame 60. Also secured to shaft 74 is a control arm 76 which is providedwith an actuating member 78 and a lock member 80. When the latter is inengagement with a solenoid operated control lever 82, control arm 76 isrendered inactive and effects an arrest of all pin receptacles 10 intheir inclined pin receiving position, shown in Figure 8. Actuatingmember 78 of control arm 76 carries at its free end an adjustablecontact screw 84, which when arm 76 is not in arrested position, engageswith the contact surface 86 of cam lever 88 loosely mounted on shaft 74.Cam lever 88 carries a cam follower 90 adapted to run on cam 92 securedto shaft 56. Adjustable links 94 connect shaft 52 to table shaft 12b. Bymeans of the mechanism described above, it will be clear that when shaft56 is rotated, table 18 is moved to and from alley A in order to placebowling pins thereon. Table 18 is maintained substantially horizontaland parallel to the alley bed at all times by means of a plurality ofstabilizing rods 96 attached at one end to vertical frame members 98 oftable 18. The other ends of rods 96 are pivotally attached to thestationary frame of the machine (not shown).

With the control arm 76 arrested by solenoid controlled lever 82, asshown in Fig. 8, table 18 may be raised or lowered without any effect onthe position of the spotting cups 10 carried thereby. However, at theproper time and when the spotting cups or receptacles 10 are filled withpins P, solenoid 100 is energized by suitable control mechanism (notshown). This causes lever 82 to move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8,and to disengage from lock member 80 of control arm 76, and due to theweight of pins P in receptacles 10, contact screw 84 of the actuatingmember 78 of arm 76 is moved against the surface 86 of cam lever 88 andfollows the motion of cam lever 88 controlled by cam 92.

Since control arm 76 is keyed to the same shaft as lever 72, the lattertransmits this motion through link 70 and arm 68 to sprocket 66, andthrough chain 64 rotates sprocket 62 on shaft 52. Due to the fact thatlever 50 is secured to shaft 52, the latter through rod 26, actuates arm24 on shaft 12b which in turn through levers 20 and connecting rods 22,actuates or rocks the other receptacle supporting shafts 12a, 12c and12d. This operation results in the movement of all pin receptacles orcups 10 from their inclined pin receiving and supporting position tosubstantially vertical spotting position as table 18 is lowered andapproaches the alley bed for spotting the several pins P thereon.

A tension and toggle spring 102 attached at one end to arm 24 and at theother end to a suitable bracket of table 18, aids in balancing theweight of pins P in receptacles 10 when the latter are in inclinedposition, but causes a rapid and positive withdrawing action ofreceptacles 10 from pins P when they are placed in spotted positions onthe alley, and also prevents swinging action which might knock down apin thus spotted. As spotter 18 moves upwardly after pins P have beenspotted, shafts l2a-12d are rocked in the opposite direction, and allcups 10 are returned to their receiving positions, as shown in Figures1, 7 and 8.

With reference to the modified spotter unit illustrated in Figures 3, 4,5 and 6, cup 30 is of substantially the same shape and length as thatshown in Figures 1 and 2. It consists of two suitably formed, elongated,generally L-shaped members 32, each provided with suitable flanges 34 onits shorter leg. Bolts 36 are used to secure them together in such a wayas to form an elongated open substantially U-shaped trough or receptablesuitably shaped to receive bowling pins. The important feature of thissplit-type cup or mechanical hand is that between the clamping surfacesof flanges 34, as well as between said flanges and the head and nut ofeach bolt 36, is located a disc 38 of resilient material such as rubberor plastic which not only effects a resiliency between the two halves ofthe receptacle 30, but also substantially decreases and deadens noisecreated during the pin receiving operation. Washers 37 located betweenthe undersurface of nuts 35 and heads 33 of bolts 36, respectively,prevent damage to discs 38 when nuts 35 are tightened on bolts 36.

To further minimize and substantially prevent sound from traveling fromcups 3tl-to other parts of the machine, the two halves 32 of eachspoiling device 30 are insulated from their respective operating andsupporting shafts 12a'12d, to which each receptacle is clamped by bolts40 by meansof suitable rubber sleeves or bushings 42 (Figs. 3 and 6),thus rendering the delivery of the bowling pins to the spotter units assilent and noiseless as possible and marking an important step forwardin pin spotting devices.

The lower or free end of each half 32 is tapered inwardly and so shapedthat the ends of the combined two halves of each receptacle form asubstantially conical seat 44, the tapered inner faces of which engagewith and support a bowling pin located therein.

A bowling pin P delivered into a spotting cup 30 moves or slidesdownwardly along bottom portions 132 and comes to rest therein with thetapered sides .of the pin above the butt end thereof resting againstinwardly directed ring portion 45 at the end of the cup or mechanicalhand 30 with the belly portion of the pin resting upon the curved bottomportion 134. A bead 32a formed along the upper edge portion of each half32 adds stiffness and rigidity to each half 32. So also ribs 32b formedon each half 32 stiffen and strengthen these members.

The modified pin spotter devices are arranged in the same triangularfashion as shown in Fig. 7 and mounted on a vertically reciprocatingspotting table 18. Devices 30 are supported for movement on theirrespective horizontal supporting shafts 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d which areinterconnected by means of arms and rods 22 in the manner mentionedheretofore. As table 18 descends from its upper pin reeciving positiontowards alley bed A, the several cups 30 are swung from their inclinedpin receiving and supporting position I shown in full lines in Figure 3to a substantially vertical pin delivery position II shown in dottedlines with table 18 stiil descending after the bottoms of the pins inthe ten cups 30 contact the alley bed to effect a disengagement of seats44 of the receptacles from the spotted pins, shown in the case of asingle pin cup 30 in the fragmentary dotted position III (Fig, 3). Eachcup then swings away from its now spotted standing pin, as illustratedin the fragmentary dotted position IV, and table 18 then ascends to itspin receiving elevated position. During the upward travel of table 18and after the ten cups or ten mechanical hands 30 have cleared thespotted pins, they all are moved back to their inclined pin receivingpositions awaiting delivery of pins thereinto.

The upper end of each trough-like member or cup is attached to a supportbracket 27, as by rivets 29. Each bracket 27 is provided with holes 31through which extend bolts 13 threaded into support bracket 27a of arespotting device (not shown). When bolts 13 are tightened in brackets27, brackets 27 and 27a are securely clamped to their respective supportshafts 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, and the sets of spotting devices 10 andrespotting units (not shown) are held thereby clamped to table 18. Bymeans of the adjusting elements just described, it will be seen that theangular position of each spotting device 10 on its respective supportingshaft can be adjusted as described to secure accurate spotting.Furthermore, due to the fact that each hole 31 is slightly oversize withrespect to the diameter of attaching bolts 13, provision is made forslight lateral adjustment of each spotter cup or device 10. In themodification shown in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, the spotting cups 3-9are secured to their respective supporting shafts by means of bolts 40extending through holes, preferably oversize as compared with thediameters of bolts 40, which are threaded into support brackets 41,which support the pin respotting units (not shown). The manner ofadjusting spotting devices 30 is therefore substantially the same asthat employed in the case of the modification shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular embodiments selected toillustrate the invention are but e 6 a few of the possible concreteforms which my invention may assume. The invention, therefore, is not tobe restricted to the precise details of the structures shown anddescribed.

What I claim is:

l. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated trough-like cuphaving a bottom surface conforming generally with the shape of a bowlingpin seated thereon and spaced side Walls extending upwardly beyond thecenter of a pin holding a pin located therein against substantiallateral movement, said cup being provided with means for engaging thelower belly portion of a pin located in said cup with the base end ofsaid pin extending beyond an end of said cup for preventing substantialdownward axial movement of said pin in said cup, a movable supportadapted to move said cup from a pin receiving position to asubstantially vertical pin holding and spotting position, and meansadjustably securing said cup to said support, whereby the position ofsaid cup may be adjusted to insure that a pin may be accurately spottedby said cup on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

2. A bowling pin spotting device for use with a pin spotter comprising abracket, an elongated generally U- shaped pin receiving and holdingmember attachedto said bracket, said member having a bottom surface onwhich rests a portion of the head and the belly of apin, and spaced sidewalls for confining said head and belly portions of said pin againstsubstantial lateral movement; and said member having pin engaging andholding means partially encircling a portion of a pin for holding a pinresting on said bottom surface of said member with the base of said pinextending outwardly beyond the free end of said member againstsubstantial axial movement; a support shaft, and means adjustablyattaching said bracket to said shaft whereby a pin held only in saidmember may be accurately spotted on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

3. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated trough-likecup, means for supporting said cup in an inclined pin receiving andholding position, pin holding means on said cup, mechanism for movingsaid cup with a pin held therein by said last-named means to asubstantially vertical position for spotting on the pla 'ing bed of abowling alley, said mechanism including means operative after a pin hasbeen placed on said bed of said alley for moving said cup downwardlyalong said pin to release said pin from said holding means and then awayfrom and clear of said pin.

4. A spotting device for a bowling pin spotting machine comprising anelongated open pin holding and supporting shell shaped to conformgenerally with the shape of a bowling pin, said shell consisting of twocomplementary members, means securing said members together to form saidelongated shell, and an inwardly directed abutment on one end of each ofsaid members adapted to partially loosely encircle the lower bellyportion of a pin and secure said pin in said shell against axialmovement for spotting on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 including resilient spacing deviceslocated between said members, and means attached to the end of said openshell remote from said abutment for supporting said shell in downwardlyinclined pin receiving and supporting position with the butt end of apin extending outwardly beyond said abutment, whereby when said butt endof said pin is seated on a bowling alley and said pin is standingthereon, said shell may be moved clear of said standing pin.

6. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein each of said members isprovided with flanges having bores, resilient discs having borespositioned in axial alignment with said bores of said flanges andbetween said flanges, resilient discs having bores coaxially arrangedwith said bores in said flanges located on the outer faces of saidflanges, and wherein said securing means include bolts passing throughsaid bores of said discs and flanges, and nuts on said bolts securingsaid members together in resilient assembled relationship.

7. A bowling pin spotter comprising a frame adapted to be moved to andfrom a pin spotting position relative to a bowling alley, a plurality oftriangularly arranged elongated open trough-like members, each having apin supporting bottom and spaced upstanding sides, mounted on saidframe, said sides embracing the major portion of the periphery of thbutt end of a pin located in said members, a movable support for eachof. said members, means attaching one end of each of said members to asupport, pin holding abutment means on the other end of each of saidmembers adapted to partially encircle the lower belly portion of a pinseated in said member and hold said pin against axial movement therein,and means for moving said frame and members to pin spotting position,including means for moving said members away from spotted pins to freesaid spotted pins from said members.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said abutment means comprisefibre half-ring elements, said elements having tapered pin engagingfaces adapted to fit snugly about a major portion of the periphery ofthe butt end of said pin engaged thereby.

9. A bowling pin spotter comprising a frame adapted to be moved to andfrom an alley for spotting pins thereon, a plurality of elongated openpin receiving and supporting shells, each of said shells having a bottomsurface and spaced upstanding side walls adapted to receive and supporta pin located on said bottom surface between said spaced upstanding sidewalls, abutment means on said shell located adjacent one end andinternally thereof for engaging the lower belly portion of a pin 10- 3cated in a shell, and securing said pin against sliding out of saidshell; movable supports on said frame for said shells, mechanism formoving said frame and supports downwardly towards said alley and totravel said shells from a pin receiving position to a pin spottingposition, and means operative subsequent to the delivery of said pins inspotted position on said alley for moving said frame to travel saidshells downwardly along said spotted pins for releasing said pins fromengagement with said abutment means and clear of said shells.

10. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said members comprise twoelementary generally L-shsped parts, and means securing said partstogether to form said elongated open pin receiving and holding members.

ll. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated generallyU-shaped pin holding member, said member having a bottom section onwhich the head and belly portions of a pin seated therein are adapted torest, and spaced upstanding walls for confining said pin againstsubstantial lateral movement, said member having means at one end forpartially encircling the lower belly portion of a pin seated in saidmember with the base end of said pin extending beyond said one end ofsaid member for preventing downward axial movement of said pin in saidmember, and means supporting said member for movement from a pinreceiving and holding position to a pin holding and spotting positionrelative to the playing bed of a bowling alley.

12. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated opentroughlil-;e pin receiving and supporting shell having a pin supportingbottom and upstanding spaced side walls confining a pin seated on saidbottom of said shell against substantial lateral movement therein, meansmounting said shell in normal pin receiving and supporting position in aplane inclined downwardly from the horizontal, inwardly extending pinengaging and holding means on the end of said shell partially encirclingthe lower belly portion of a pin seated in said shell for holding a pinseated in said shell against downward axial movement relative theretowith the base end of said pin projecting outwardly beyond the end ofsaid shell for placement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said pin engaging andholding means comprises a half-ring element.

14. A spotting device for a bowling pin spotting machine comprising anelongated open generally U-shaped pin shell shaped to conform generallywith the shape of a bowling pin, movable means normally supporting saidpin shell in an inclined pin receiving and supporting position, andmeans at the free end of said pin shell and projecting inwardlytherefrom and partially encircling the belly portion of a pin above thebase end thereof with the base end of the pin projecting outwardlybeyond the end of said shell, said last-named means being operative toengage and hold said pin against downward or sliding movement out ofsaid shell.

15. A bowling pin spotting device comprising a frame adapted to be movedto and from a bowling alley for spotting pins thereon, a plurality ofelongated generally U-shaped pin holding and spotting members attachedto said frame, each of said members having a bottom section on which thehead and belly portions of a pin seated therein rest, inwardly taperedpin confining means adapted to partially encircle and hold said seatedpin against sliding movement out of said member with the butt end of apin projecting beyond the end of said member, and spaced walls forconfining said pin against substantial lateral movement, meanssupporting said members in inclined pin receiving and holding position,and means operative when said frame has been moved to spotting positionfor moving said members to substantially vertical position to spot pinsheld in said members in playing arrangement on said bowling alley.

16. A bowling pin spotter comprising a frame adapted to be moved to andfrom a bowling alley for spotting pins in playing arrangement thereon, aplurality of elongated trough-like cups having one end attached to saidframe mounted in substantially triangular arrangement on said frame,means for supporting said cups on said frame in inclined pin receivingand supporting position, each of said cups having means for engaging andhold ing a pin resting thereon and seated therein against axial movementout of said cup and with the butt end project- 5 2g beyond the other endof said cup, mechanism for moving said frame to pin spotting positionabove said alley and for moving all of said cups with pins held thereinto a substantially vertical position for spotting on the playing bed ofa bowling alley, said mechanism including means operative after a pinhas been placed on said bed of said alley for moving said cupsdownwardly along pins spotted on said alley to release said pins fromsaid holding means and then away from and clear of said pin, and forreturning said frame and said cups to pin receiving position.

17. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated completelyopen trough-like pin receiving and supporting cup, having a pinsupporting bottom and upstanding spaced side walls confining a pinseated on said bottom against substantial lateral movement, means at oneend of said cup mounting said cup for normal support in a plane inclineddownwardly from the horizontal, said means including a shaft, resilientseating means for said cup on said shaft; and means on the free end ofsaid cup for partially encircling the lower belly portion of a pinseated in said cup with the base of said pin extending beyond saidlast-named means for holding said pin seated in said cup againstdownward axial movement out of said cup for delivery by said cup onto abowling alley.

18. A bowling pin spotter comprising a frame adapted to be moved to andfrom a bowling alley for spotting pins in playing arrangement thereon, aplurality of elongated trough-like cups carried in substantiallytriangular arrangement on said frame, rotatably supported shafts mountedin said frame, means connecting said cups to said shafts, mechanism formoving said frame to pin spotting position above said alley and meansfor rocking said shafts supporting said cups with pins held therein todispose said cups in substantially vertical pin spotting positionrelative to the bed of a bowling alley, means operative after pins havebeen placed on the bed of said alley for moving said frame towards saidbed of said alley to travel said cups downwardly along said spotted pinsand release said pins from said cups, means for moving said cups awayfrom and clear of said spotted pins, and means for moving said frameupwardly to a position of rest above said bowling alley and includingmeans for returning said cups to their pin receiving positions.

19. A bowling pin spotting device comprising an elongated opentrough-like pin receiving and supporting shell having a pin supportingbottom and upstanding spaced side walls confining a pin seated on saidbottom of said shell against substantial lateral movement therein, amovable support for said device, means mounting said shell on saidsupport in normal pin receiving and supporting position in a planeinclined downwardly from the horizontal, and inwardly extendinghalf-ring pin engaging and holding means on the end of said shellpartially encircling the lower belly portion of a pin seated in saidshell for holding a pin seated in said shell against downward axialmovement relative thereto with the base end of said pin projectingoutwardly beyond the end of said shell for placement on the playing bedof a bowling alley.

20. The invention defined in claim 19 wherein said half-ring pinengaging and holding means is formed of fibre, said pin engaging andholding means having a tapered pin engaging face adapted to fit snuglyabout a major portion of the periphery of the butt end of said pinengaged thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS721,673 Cunningham Mar. 3, 1903 1,190,644 Hedenskoog July 11, 19161,190,651 Hedenskoog July 11, 1916 1,597,973 Hedenskoog Aug. 31, 19261,627,414 Schafier May 3, 1927

